VFD Panel

What is a VFD control panel?

Sometimes your work space is dusty, dirty, wet, humid, corrosive, or hot. In those harsh environments, you cannot just mount your VFD exposed. You need a VFD Control panel – an enclosure that protects the VFD and other electric components.

What is a VFD control panel used for?

Keeping all components in one panel

Keeping dust, dirt, and weather out of electrical parts

A complete motor control solution (bypass, harmonic filtering, etc.)

What is typically inside a VFD control panel?

There are many components you can put inside a VFD control panel. Here are some examples of what you might find:

VFD – The main component of the motor control panel. The VFD inside will vary in voltage, horsepower, full load amps (FLA), and other specifications. Sometimes you may find redundant VFDs installed in case of a VFD failure.

Line reactors – 3% or 5% to reduce harmonic distortion

Harmonic filters – a more effective way to reduce harmonic distortion

Circuit breaker – protects the electrical circuit from overload or short circuit

Bypass – keeps the system running even if the VFD fails

PLC – Programmable Logic Controller – for more advanced operations

Modem – for communication purpose

AC or other cooling units – keeps the panel at a certain temperature depending on surrounding environment

Soft-starter – starts motor slowly but without speed control

Surge protector – protects the system from voltage spikes

Multiple motor overloads – an option for powering multiple motors off one VFD, typically used on fan walls